We pray that your observance of Labor Day was restful and you are ready for the ‘fall rhythm of life’. We will be going back to normal business hours starting Tuesday, September 3rd. Come visit us anytime Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.!
Our summer hours are in effect July 1-September 1! We will be closing each day at 5:00 p.m. instead of 6:00 p.m. Our doors open at 10:00 a.m. Monday – Saturday. Enjoy your summer!
Please come in for our Red Dot Sale! we have shelves stocked with slightly scratched, dented or discontinued items and all are greatly reduced!
We pray that you and yours have a happy, holy Triduum and Easter season!
Spring IS on the way…but because of today’s winter storm, we’re closed, 2/20/2019. Stay warm and stop by tomorrow instead!
Yes, we are open for business, January 14, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Stop by if you are out and about and please…be careful out there!
We have customers coming in who aren’t of Polish decent asking about this beautiful tradition. Of course you can adopt it in your family even if you aren’t Polish!
The following is an article from The Polish American Journal with a thorough description of how to celebrate with Oplatek:
One of the most beautiful and most revered Polish customs is the “breaking of the oplatek.” The use of the Christmas wafer (oplatek) is practiced not only by native Poles in Poland, but by people all over the world whose ancestors came from Poland.
The “oplatek” is a thin wafer, made of flour and water. For table use, it is white. In Poland, colored wafers are used to make Christmas tree decorations. Formerly, these were baked by organists or by religious and were distributed from house to house in the parish during Advent. Today, they are produced commercially and sold in religious stores and houses.
On Christmas eve, the whole family gathers and waits impatiently for the appearance of the first star. With its first gleam, they all approach a table covered with hay and a snow-white table cloth. A vacant chair and a place setting is reserved for the unexpected guest, always provided for in hospitable Polish American homes.
The father or eldest member of the family reaches for the wafer, breaks it in half and gives one half to the mother. Then each of them breaks a small part of each other’s piece and, after a warm kiss, they wish each other long life, good health, joy and happiness, not only for the holiday season, but for the coming year and for many years to come.
Now the same ceremony is repeated between father and their children, as well as among the children, then, with the relatives and even strangers, if they happen to be present. The ceremony over, they all sit down to a tasteful, though meatless supper, after which they sing kolendy (Christmas carols and pastorals) until the time for Midnight Mass, also know as “Pasterka.”
Sometimes, the oplatek is sent, in a greeting card, to loved ones away from home.
An ancient, Polish tradition, these wafers are shared at the Christmas Eve table in memory of ancestors, departed loved ones and for the Unseen Guest, Jesus Christ. There is high hope that the “Unexpected Guest” will come and bless the gathering. What a beautiful way to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas! We have plenty on stock. $1.50 for a single wafer packet and $3.00 for three (two white and one pink).
This item is not available in our online store, however, for your convenience, you can call the store and arrange payment. We are happy to mail your order to you.
